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Luzhniki Stadium

Luzhniki Stadium
Flickr - BBM Explorer - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow.jpg
Former names Central Lenin Stadium (1956–1992)
Location 24 Luzhnetskaya Embankment, Moscow, Russia
Coordinates 55°42′57″N 37°33′14″E / 55.71583°N 37.55389°E / 55.71583; 37.55389Coordinates: 55°42′57″N 37°33′14″E / 55.71583°N 37.55389°E / 55.71583; 37.55389
Owner Government of Moscow
Operator Luzhniki Olympic Sport Complex JSC
Capacity 78,360 (2012)
Record attendance 102,538 (USSRItaly, 13 October 1963)
Surface FieldTurf (grass for 2008 UEFA Champions League Final)
Construction
Broke ground 1955
Opened July 31, 1956
Renovated 1996 (self-supported cover), 1999
2001—2004
Closed 2013
Rebuilt 2013-2017
Construction cost 350 million EUR
Tenants
USSR/Russia national football team (1956–2012)

The Luzhniki Stadium (Russian: Стадион «Лужники»; IPA: [stədʲɪˈon lʊʐnʲɪˈkʲi]), is a sports stadium in Moscow, Russia. Its total seating capacity is 78,360 seats, all covered (upgraded). The stadium is a part of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, and is located in Khamovniki District of the Central Administrative Okrug of Moscow city. The name Luzhniki derives from the flood meadows in the bend of Moskva River where the stadium was built, translating roughly as "The Meadows".

In the past its field was mainly used (at various times) for football games played by PFC CSKA Moscow, Torpedo Moscow and Spartak Moscow, but none of these teams are based there any more. Today it is mainly used as one of the home grounds of the Russian national football team. It is one of the few major European stadia to use an artificial pitch, having installed a FIFA-approved FieldTurf pitch in 2002. The pitch is necessary because regular grass pitches cannot withstand the harsh Russian winters and must be replaced at high cost. However, a temporary natural grass pitch was installed for the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final. The stadium is also used from time to time for various other sporting events and for concerts.

The stadium is located in Khamovniki District of the Central Administrative Okrug of Moscow city, south-west of the city center. The name Luzhniki derives from the flood meadows in the bend of Moskva River where the stadium was built, translating roughly as "The Meadows".It was necessary to find a very large plot of land, preferably in a green area, but close to the city center, which, without too much difficulty to fit into the transport map of the capital. According to one of the architects "On a sunny spring day of 1954, we, a group of architects and engineers who were tasked with designing the Central stadium, climbed onto a large paved area on the Lenin Hills... the proximity of the river, green mass of clean, fresh air - this circumstance alone mattered to select the area of the future city of sports... In addition, Luzhniki is located relatively close to the city center and convenient access to major transport systems with all parts of the capital".


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